United States › Minnesota › Brainerd CITY · 2020 ACS
Brainerd Minnesota · 14,395 residents · 12.1 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS 2024 ACS
The short version
With 14,395 people, Brainerd is a city in Minnesota. That trails the Minnesota median by roughly 50%. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 16% of adults. The foreign-born share is 2%. The typical home is worth $127,700, having more than doubled since 2000. 52% of homes are owner-occupied.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 35.6
US median: 38.8
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 26%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 32.8 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
12K 13K 13K 14K 15K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Brainerd Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $36,699
−9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $26,901 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $15,744 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 10.8% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 17.6% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Professional, scientific, technical 4.2%
Public administration 3.7%
Transportation & warehousing 3%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 1.3%
Education & health services 0.3%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.2%
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$127,700
+26%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $67,200 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$716
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $445 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 53.9% in 2000
48.1% rent
from 2.03 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 4.2 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 95.4%(12,567)
Hispanic / Latino 0.9%(113)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 87.6%(12,614)
Hispanic / Latino 2.5%(363)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 20 more ancestry groups with data from 14.1% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 83.7% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 4.5% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 11.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 75.8% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 13.3% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 12.1% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 63.8% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 24.4% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 15.1% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 42.3%(2,235)
Women 15+
Never married 33.2%(2,093)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 15.1% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 27.6%(260)
Gulf War (1990s) 12.7%(120)
Share of the 943 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Brainerd Head to head
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Brainerd, Minnesota? Brainerd, Minnesota has about 14,395 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Brainerd, Minnesota? The typical household in Brainerd, Minnesota earns about $36,699 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Brainerd, Minnesota expensive? In Brainerd, Minnesota, the median home is worth about $127,700, and the typical rent is about $716 a month.
How educated are people in Brainerd, Minnesota? About 16.4% of adults age 25 and over in Brainerd, Minnesota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Brainerd, Minnesota? About 18.6% of people in Brainerd, Minnesota live below the federal poverty line.
Has Brainerd, Minnesota grown since 1990? Yes, Brainerd, Minnesota has grown since 1990. The population has added about 2,042 residents, a change of about 17 percent over that period.
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